Meet teacher, Midway resident Amanda Jagdeo

We hosted our annual Discovery Expo event on campus in March and it was a wonderful success. Hamline Elementary students from all grade levels visited Hamline University’s Anderson Center for hands-on learning experiences from a variety of campus organizations, programs, and academic departments. The goal of the event is to provide college and career exploration in a fun and engaging way and – as we do with all our programming –build strong relationships across our two campuses. Many thanks to all who attended and supported this event! And that spring in our step continues as we prepare for a second grade academic pairing with a “Business in Society” class, kindergarten tours of Bush Library, and continuing our partnership with Hamline University Athletics for an all-school field day on Klas Field in May.
We are so grateful for the people who fill our “two campuses and one community” with learning and connection. We’d like to introduce you to one of those people who spends her day with Hamline Elementary’s littlest learners.
Meet Amanda Jagdeo - a dynamic and talented teacher at Hamline Elementary. This is Ms. Amanda’s fourth year as a pre-K teacher at Hamline.
“Teaching pre-K in the Midway feels like the most important job to me because I deeply believe that if I can eliminate the opportunity gap before it exists, students will be on a path toward future success, both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Ms. Amanda.
This neighborhood and the students within it mean a lot to her, and she’s always looking to change lives and provide an enriching education with the opportunity to teach at Hamline Elementary.
“It feels important to me that it happens in our community because kiddos who live where I live, look like I look, and come from the kind of family I came from should have the same opportunities as their White, more affluent peers in the suburbs. I work hard to make sure kiddos in our classroom feel loved and safe, so they know it is okay to take risks and make mistakes as they problem solve, try new things and figure out what makes them excited about coming to school every day. I want them to love learning and carry that love with them for years to come,” said Ms. Amanda.
Ms. Amanda does more than just teaching in the classroom, however. She also participated in Hamline University’s Teacher Field School, a series of retreats focused on helping teachers develop fluency in standards-aligned, equity-centered, multidisciplinary approaches in nature-based education.
Her participation in this program led to walking Wednesdays, where “we take walks to local parks, open fields or to Hamline University to engage with nature,” said Ms. Amanda.
“The Midway neighborhood in Saint Paul where my students and I live is urban, which makes it especially important that students are able to build a relationship with nature, regulate their bodies and brains outside and have the opportunity to learn in an alternative setting. This led me to create a weekly walking field trip we call Walking Wednesdays, which allows us to take our learning into the nature spaces our neighborhood has to offer,” said Ms. Amanda.
Hamline Elementary is truly fortunate to have a neighbor and educator like Ms. Amanda and her good and great work is not just apparent to those who see her work every day, but to others, as well. We are happy to share that Ms. Amanda is a semi-finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Finalists will be announced in April. We’re so proud of her and her accomplishments here at Hamline Elementary and at the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration, and are thankful for all she’s done to contribute positively to our community.
Written by Hamline University student and Assistant to the Collaboration, Darby Comiskey.